The BRS: Become a Homeowner Without Paying Top Dollar

While rents are skyrocketing in most major French cities, the dream of homeownership remains very much alive among the French. There is a way to become a homeowner for the price of rent.

According to a recent IPSOS survey, more than six out of ten French people still want to buy their primary residence, convinced that it is a wise investment, particularly as a way to prepare for retirement. Against this backdrop, a new program is attracting more and more buyers: the Bail Réel Solidaire (BRS).
 

What is the Solidarity-Based Real Estate Lease (BRS)?
The BRS is an innovative home-ownership program based on a simple principle: separating the purchase of the home (the structure) from that of the land (the property). In practice, the buyer becomes the owner of the home but not of the land on which it is built. The land remains owned by a Solidarity Land Office (OFS), to which the buyer pays a nominal monthly fee.
 

This separation between the building and the land significantly reduces the purchase price, making it easier for households that would otherwise have had difficulty becoming homeowners to buy a home.
 

A cost comparable to rent
The main benefit of the BRS program is financial: it allows households to become homeowners with monthly payments (including the mortgage and service fee) that are often equivalent to—or even lower than—the amount of a typical rent in high-demand areas.
According to several real estate operators active nationwide, this solution effectively enables a broad range of people—including young couples, single-parent families, and first-time homebuyers—to access properties suited to their needs while keeping their monthly expenses under control.
 

A program particularly well-suited to large cities
The BRS is currently enjoying growing success in regions where real estate prices remain high and rental pressure is intense, such as Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and the Pays de la Loire. Its flexibility allows families to purchase homes tailored to their needs: from one-bedroom apartments for young professionals to four-bedroom homes for families seeking more space at a lower cost.
This innovative program perfectly addresses the current challenge of steadily rising construction and mortgage costs by offering an accessible and sustainable solution to the housing crisis.
 

A System Set to Become Widespread
Players in the real estate market are already anticipating that the BRS will play a significant role in the supply of new housing over the next few years. Some developers predict that it could account for about 15% of reservations as early as 2025, and potentially more than a quarter of new homes brought to market by the end of the decade.
Given the growing complexity of the real estate market, the Bail Réel Solidaire now appears to be a credible and attractive alternative that meets French people’s desire to become homeowners while maintaining control over their housing budget.